Spencer Town Council Adopts 2010 Budget Figures Of $1.4 M

Children trick-or-treating in Spencer will officially do so on Halloween night, Saturday, October 31 from six until eight o'clock according to the Spencer Town Council.

During Monday evening's council meeting, Spencer Town Marshal Richard Foutch also noted that his department would once again host a hot dog cookout for children, while also providing beverages.

In more formal business for the Town of Spencer, the council voted 3-0 to adopt a 2010 general fund budget of $1,412,593. Town employees will receive an additional $10,000 in clothing allowance in 2010, while the line item paying deputy town marshals was also increased by $10,000.

Other changes from 2009 to 2010 include increases in other areas of the property tax levied budget. The local roads and streets funding increased from $10,535 in 2009 to $12,074 in 2010. Motor vehicle highway funds increased from $95,481 in 2009 by slightly more than 12 percent for 2010 to $107,000. Cumulative capital improvement funding will double, going from $10,000 to $20,000. Cumulative capital development funds increased from $25,584 to $45,000. Special fire protection line item one increased from $250,500 to $255,200, while special fire protection line item two increased from $25,000 to $40,000.

In Spencer Street Department business, the council approved the purchase of 100 tons of salt in the total amount of $7,776 from Detroit Salt. The council also approved an old-fashioned trade off with the Owen County Highway Department, as the town will receive oil for the street department's pot hole patcher in exchange for $2,600 in paving and the difference of $22.72 by check.

In police department business, Town Marshal Foutch mentioned letters he had received from residents on East North Street in regards to yield signs. The council instructed legal council Richard Lorenz to construct an ordinance vacating yield signs and permitting stop signs at the corner of North Street and Fairview Avenue.

Foutch also spoke of an October 8 training session planned to demonstrate how to utilize a virtual form of firearms certification.

In sewer department business, superintendent Shelley Edwards informed the council of a failing transducer at the sewer plant. Edwards explained that the transducer regulates the water pressure flowing through the plant. The council voted for Edwards to purchase a rebuilt transducer at a cost of $2,195.29.

The council later voted 3-0 to select Indianapolis-based engineering firm GRW concerning an Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs Community Development Block Grant for sanitary sewer and storm planning.

Council president Dean Bruce noted the recent completion of volunteer work at Cooper Commons by Bloomington Boy Scout Sean Ray as part of his Eagle Scout project. Ray and other scouts repainted signs and performed general maintenance to the park.

The council also voted 3-0 to select a new health insurance plan from Spencer's Insurance Services for Town of Spencer employees. A 3-0 vote was also cast to approve property and liability insurance for the town at a cost of $30,659.

Members of the Spencer Town Council will meet again on Monday, October 5 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, located at 90 N. West Street.